Basket handle machine



Nov. 1, 1932. M. HILE BASKET HANDLE MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l L. M. HILE Nov. 1, 1932.

BASKET HANDLE MACHI NE Filed Oct. 5, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 1, 1932. H|| E 1,885,599

BASKET HANDLE MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1951 a Sheets-Sheet s Nov. 1, 1932. L. M. HILE 1,885,599

BASKET HANDLE MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 1, 1932. L. M. HILE BASKET HANDLE MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 5, 1931 Nov. 1, 1932.

y L- M. HILE BASKET HANDLE MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 5, 1951 Nov. 1, 1932. L. M. HILE 1,885,599

BASKET HANDLE MACHINE Filed Oct 5, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 1, 1932.

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BASKET HANDLE MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Nov. 1, 1 932 PATENT, OFFICE LESLIE M. HILE, OF. BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN BASKET HANDLE MACHINE Application filed October 5, 1931. Serial No. 566,891.

This invention relates to machinery for attaching handles to baskets, such as bushel and half-bushel baskets.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby novel and more satisfactory means are provided for bending or clinching the ends of the wire handles, thereby to effectively anchor the 19 handles in the rim of the basket.

More specifically considered, the object of the invention is to provide a novel construction whereby said bending or clinching means are better adapted for use in duplicate, at opposite sides of the machine, thereby to attach the two handles simultaneously to opposite sides of the basket.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinationstending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of a basket handle machine of this particular character. To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set 15 forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective of a basket provided with handles ofthe kind made and attached by a machine embodying the principles of the invention. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of one of said handles, showing the adjacent portion of the basket.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of said machine. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of said machine. Fig. 5 is a plan of said machine. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the clinching mechanism of said machine.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the elements of said clinching mechanism. 7

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings.

Fig. 10 is a perspective of one of the elements of said clinching mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view illustrating the operation of the clinching mechanism, showing the parts thereof in normal position,

' and showing the handle partially inserted.

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the handle fully inserted, and showing the clinching mechanism in operative position. 1

As thus illustrated, the handle to be mad and inserted in the basket, as shown in Figs.

l and 2 of the drawings comprises a transverse top portion 1, legs or side portions 2, and inner end portions 3, which latter are bent against the inner surface of the rim 4 of the basket. As the portions 3 are more or less ()0 horizontal, it follows that the handle can be bent outwardly and then back again, as in attaching a basket cover in place, without distorting the end portions 3, and without rocking the inner ends of the handle in a man a ner that might injure the fruit or other contents of the basket. The method of making and attaching the handle consists in first cutting off a length of wire and bending it into bail-shaped form, then bending the ends of 7 the legs or side portions at right angles, then inserting these bent end portions straight through the basket rim, and bending or clinching the inner ends of the inserted portions upon the inner surface of the basket rim. The machine for making and thus attaching these wire handles, embodying the principles of the invention, is as follows: 7

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that said machine comprises front and rear so body frames 5 and 6 supported ona base 7 in the manner shown. The front and rear frames are connected by side frames 8, so that the whole forms a rigid body for the machine. An arch-like casting 9 extends from one side 5 of the machine to the other, at the front there'- of, in the manner shown. 1

The mechanism 10 for cutting off and bending the wire into bail-shaped form may be of anysuitable known or approved character, so

and is common and well-known. In the wellknown manner, these wire bail-shaped members or blanks are delivered to the handledriving mechanism 11, this mechanism being duplicated at opposite sides of the machine, right and left.' This mechanism may also be of any suitable known or approved form, and is common and well-known.

The driving pulley 12 is connected through gearing 13 with the main driving shaft 14,100

and from the latter the various operative parts of the machine are driven by well-known means, including the wire feed rolls 15, by which the wire for the handles is fed downwardly to the forming mechanism 10 employed in duplicate at opposite sides of the machine.

A basket support 16 is provided 'at the front of the machine, to support the lower portion of the basket, this support having an opening 17 to accommodate the handle which has already been attached. 7

The mechanism for bending'or clinching the ends of the handles, embodying the principles of the invention, is as follows: At each side of the machine there is a basket support 18, shown moreclea'rly in Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings. These supports are shaped to enter the basket at opposite sides thereof and bear against the inner sides of the basket rim. Bolts 19 serve to detachably secure the said supports 18 in position on the stationary brackets 20 supported by the body frame of the machine. Adjustable gauges or stops '21 are provided to engage the edge of the basket rim, thereby to properly or accurately position the basket to receive the handles. As shown in Figs. 8, 9, 11, and 12, each support 18 has a pair of clinch blocks or clinchers 22 pivoted therein to oscillate on pivots 23, each clinch block being shaped as shown in Fig. 7-. These clinch blocks are located in slots 24 formed in the supports 18, and in this way these clinchers are adapted to oscillate about parallel axes extending parallel with the axis of the basket. Each clinch block is provided on its face with a groove 25 to receive one of the handle ends. It 'will also be seen'that 'endwise reciprocating pins 26 are mounted in the brackets 20, in position to engage the clinchers 22, thereby to actuate said clinchers from the normal position shown in Fig. 11, to'the opera-tive'positions shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The means for actuating the pins 26 may be of any suitable known'or approved character, but preferably include cam wheels 27 provided with cams 28 for engaging the outer ends of said pins. These 'camwheels are mounted on the transverse shaft 29, and the latter is mounted in bearings 30, mounted "on stationary portions of the machine. It will be seen that this shaft'29 extends horizontally across the front of the machine, in the plane "of the axis of the basket, and by rocking this shaft at the proper time, the clinchers 22 will be actuated in timed relation to the other elements of the machine, thereby 'to bend or clinch the handle ends in the manner shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. These handle ends are partially bent when they are inserted, as'shown in Fig. 11 of the'drawin'gs,

while the clinchers are in normal position. Thereafter the clinchers are oscillated or rocked on their axes to complete the bendi,ss5,59e

ing operation, thereby to clinch or flatten the handle ends against the inner side of the basket rim. The shaft 30 is provided with an arm 31 connected by a rod 32 with power transmitting means (not shown) connected to the shaft 14 previously mentioned, whereby this rock shaft 29 is actuated in the desired manner, with the result that the clinchers 22 are actuated, all four of them, simultaneously, thereby to bend or clinch the handle en'dsat opposite-sides of the basket.

The said bending or clinching mechanism is especially'adapted for use on a machine having provisions for making and attaching two handles at the same time, but it is obvious that the said bending or clinching mechanism may be used singly, on a machine for attaching one handle at a time, if such is necessary or desirable.

As shownv in Fig.2 of the drawings, it is obvious that the clinching mechanism shown and described may be modified, more or less, to bend the handle ends away from each other, to bend them exactly horizontally, or to bend them with a slight tilt up or down, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Inany event, the clinching mechanism shown and described is compact and conveniently mounted in position to enter the basket and operate therein, without taking upmore room than isnecessary or convenient. Each clincher 22 is comparatively short and does not require much space in which to operate. The elements 26 are com paratively small and require very little room in which to operate. The cams 28 operate by oscillation'about a horizontal axis, and hence all of the elements of the clinching mechanism are of such form, and are operated in such a manner, that practically a minimum of room or space is required in which tomount and operate these elements.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 12 -of the drawings, the clinch blocks or clinchers 22 are so formed and operative that they pressthe wire endportions 3 into the inner hoop of the basket rim, leaving the inner side of the basket rim substantially smooth and without any sharp end projections. In addition, this serves to tightly hold or anchor the handle in place.

Therefore, in effect, the wire ends are turned back into the inner side of the basket rim, but not to the extent that they penetrate as far as the outer side of the rim.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a basket handle machine for attaching wire handles to baskets by inserting the handle ends through the basket rim, the combination of means for supporting the basket in position to have the wire handle inserted in the rim thereof, clinchers pivoted to operate inside of the basket, against the nn side of the basket'rim, endwise reciprocating elements having engagement at one end thereof with said clinchers, and rotary means for engaging the other ends of said elements, thereby to actuate said clinchers to bend or clinch the handle ends in the desired manner.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinchers being mounted to oscillate about 1 parallel axes extending parallel with the axis of the basket, whereby the handle ends are deflected laterally; v

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said rotary means comprising a rock shaft operable about an axis extending at right angles to the axis of the basket, and including cams on said shaft to engage said elements.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinchers being formed to deflect the handle ends toward each other against the inner side of the basket rim.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said rotary means comprising cams for engaging the ends of said elements.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinchers and the means for the operation thereof being mounted at one side of said machine, and similar clinchers and operating means therefor mounted at the other side of the machine, connected to operate in unison, whereby to insert two handles in opposite sides of the basket at the same time.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinchers and the means for the operation thereof being mounted at one side of said machine, and similar clinchers and operating means therefor mounted at the other side of the machine, connected to operate in unison, whereby to insert two handles in opposite sides of the basket at the same time, said means for operating said reciprocating elements comprising a rock shaft extending transversely across the front of the machine, and including cams on the end portions of said rock shaft to engage said reciprocating elements.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinchers and the means for the operation thereof being mounted at one side of said machine, and similar clinchers and operating means therefor mounted at the other side of the machine, connected to operate in unison, whereby to insert two handles in opposite sides of the basket at the same time, said means for operating said reciprocating elements comprising a rock shaft extending transversely across the front of the machine, and including cams on the end portions of said rock shaft to engage said reciprocating elements, said clinchers being mounted to.

oscillate about horizontal parallel axes extending parallel with the axis of the basket, and said rock shaft extending horizontally in the plane of said basket axis.

9. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinchers having normal positions adapted to effect a partial bending of the handle ends.

1 10. A structure as specified in claim 1, said rotary means comprising a wheel with a pair of cams ,on theside thereof, each cam disposed: in position to engage one of said reciprocating elements.

11. A structure as specified in claim .1, said clinchers being formed to direct the wire ends into the inner side of the basket rim.

12. In a machine for attaching wire handles to baskets, by inserting the end portions of the handle through the basket rim, the combination of means for supporting the basket rim in position to receive the inserted end portions of the handle, and clinching means disposed in position to operate adjacent the inner side of the basket rim, formed and operative to bend and direct the Wire ends into the inner side of the basket rim, thereby partially inserting the wire ends a distance outwardly through the basket rim, While preventing the wire ends from penetrating to the outer side of the rim.

13. In a basket handle machine for attaching wire handles to baskets by inserting the handle ends through the basket rim, the combination of means for supporting the basket in position to receive the handle, a stationary support inside of the basket, a pair of loose pins arranged parallel and mounted for endwise movement in said support, in directions at right angles to the axis of the basket, actuating means for moving said pins toward the basket rim, and clinching means actuated by said pins to clinch the ends of the handle.

14. A structure as specified in claim 13,

said actuating means comprising a disk rotatable about an axis extending parallel with said pins, with cams on one side of said disk in position to engage the adjacent ends of the pins.

15. A structure as specified in claim 13, said clinching means comprising pivoted clinch blocks movable about axes extending parallel with the axis of the basket.

16. In a basket handle machine for attaching wire handles to baskets by inserting the handle ends through the basket rim, the combination of means for supporting the basket in position to receive the handle, a rotary disk disposed inside of the basket in positon to rotate about an axis extending at right angles to the axis of the basket, cams on the side of the disk facing the basket rim, and clinching means actuated by said cams to clinch the ends of the handle.

17. A structure as specified in claim 16, said clinching means comprising pivoted clinch blocks movable about axes extending parallel with the axis of the basket.

18. In abasket handle machine for attaching wire handles to baskets by inserting the handle ends through the basket rim, the combination of means for supporting the basket in position to receive the handle, a pair of flinch {aimed @fio swing toward each (flqher to bend ithe handlefends moward each other against Ithe dinner sile :otf'the Ebasket rim, and instirum'entwl'iities 01" actuating said 5 clinch blocks in unison.

Specificationsigned i'ihis ls't dmy of October, Z1931.

LESLIE M. 

